Baking with Kafka - The Library of the Uncommons

English language

Published Jan. 12, 2017

ISBN:: 978-1-77046-296-0
OCLC Number:: 973800688

(2 reviews)

"In his inimitable style, British cartoonist Tom Gauld has opened comics to a crossover audience and challenged perceptions of what the medium can be. Noted as a "book-lover's cartoonist," Gauld's weekly strips in the Guardian, Britain's most well-regarded newspaper, stitch together the worlds of literary criticism and pop culture to create brilliantly executed, concise comics. Simultaneously silly and serious, Gauld adds an undeniable lightness to traditionally highbrow themes. From sarcastic panels about the health hazards of being a best-selling writer to a list of magical items for fantasy writers (such as the Amulet of Attraction, which summons mainstream acceptance, Hollywood money, and fresh coffee), Gauld's cartoons are timely and droll-his trademark British humour, impeccable timing, and distinctive visual style sets him apart from the rest. Lauded both for his frequent contributions to New Scientist, the Guardian and the New York Times, and his Eisner-nominated graphic novels, Tom Gauld is one …

"In his inimitable style, British cartoonist Tom Gauld has opened comics to a crossover audience and challenged perceptions of what the medium can be. Noted as a "book-lover's cartoonist," Gauld's weekly strips in the Guardian, Britain's most well-regarded newspaper, stitch together the worlds of literary criticism and pop culture to create brilliantly executed, concise comics. Simultaneously silly and serious, Gauld adds an undeniable lightness to traditionally highbrow themes. From sarcastic panels about the health hazards of being a best-selling writer to a list of magical items for fantasy writers (such as the Amulet of Attraction, which summons mainstream acceptance, Hollywood money, and fresh coffee), Gauld's cartoons are timely and droll-his trademark British humour, impeccable timing, and distinctive visual style sets him apart from the rest. Lauded both for his frequent contributions to New Scientist, the Guardian and the New York Times, and his Eisner-nominated graphic novels, Tom Gauld is one of the most celebrated cartoonists working today. In Baking With Kafka, he proves this with one witty, sly, ridiculous comic after another."--

2 editions

Soh Kam Yung reviewed Baking with Kafka by Tom Gauld

Literary funny comics.

3 stars

An entertaining collection of comics by Tom Gauld, who mostly creates cartoons for the Guardian. By mainly playing with (and skewering) common tropes in books (mainly literary, science fiction or fantasy works), Gauld shows some of the absurdities that we accept as 'just the way things are done' in society.

Some comics play with literary conventions, like imagining how the characters in novels think about sex, or going on various fantasy quests while knowing most of them won't make it to the end due to the whims of authors. Other comics give humorous (and occasionally apocalyptic) views of society by playing the 'if this goes on' game.

Overall, a good collection that never fails to get a laugh for those looking for humour that pokes fun at the more literary aspects of society.

coucou

rated it

Dec. 14, 2021

Subjects

Books and reading
Literature
Comic books, strips
Fiction